Plus, Scarlett Johansson stars in Lucy

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

• MOVIESBig Releases: July 25: Hercules; Lucy
Big Picture: Hercules is the role Dwayne Johnson was born to play. The actor oozes as much charisma as he does testosterone, and never takes himself too seriously — essential skills when playing an ancient, perpetually shirtless half-god. In ancient Greece, when someone says: “You cannot deny what you are, the gods will punish you for it,” it typically means you’re about to get a major smackdown from Olympus.
Hell hath no fury like a demi-god scorned after a three-headed beast from Hades kills Herc’s true love (making the loss more poignant, she happens to be played by a Russian supermodel named Irina Shayk). As our hero proves, vengeance is a dish best served … shirtless.
Meanwhile, Lucy is brought to us by French director Luc Besson. He had me at Scarlett Johansson plays a sexy drug mule chemically transformed into a sexy, violent superhuman. While humans use 10 per cent of their brain, Scarlett’s Lucy is rapidly closing in on 100 per cent — a process that sees her combat skills vastly improve (she could take out the entire Avengers team blindfolded), and may help her unlock the secrets of the universe. Morgan Freeman co-stars.
Forecast: Hercules battles giant lions, giant wild boars, giant hydras, giant armies and giant schmaltz. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson pulls it off with aplomb. But the real treat is the art-house action flick, Lucy, which bares a side of Johansson you’ve never seen before. As her powers become increasingly godlike, not even Hercules would stand a chance. (Note to universe: I would be fine with Scarlett as a future deity).

Honourable Mention: And So It Goes
Michael Douglas plays a cantankerous, irascible, rich SOB who is unceremoniously burdened with the care of his estranged granddaughter. Of course, they youngin’ and his wise, witty neighbour (Diane Keaton) — i.e. romantic interest — help him learn the true meaning of life. It’s like Scrooge without the ghosts — and more flirting.

Writer/director Luc Besson directs Scarlett Johansson in Lucy,

• TVBig Events: July 22, Food Fighters (NBC); July 21, Sky Jumpers (History)
Big Picture: The cooking show and game competition worlds’ collide! Food Fighters features amateur cooks competing against five professional chefs. The pros are asked to make the contestants signature dish or “family recipe” better than them.
A dinner party of average Americans make up judge, jury and tastebud testers. (I’m wondering if my secret recipe: bacon-wrapped, ham double-wrapped baloney sandwiches could net me a spot on the show?). Meanwhile, Sky Jumpers is a new documentary about a daredevil skydiving team, including Canadian pro Jay Moledzki.
Forecast: I’m hoping someone from Colonel Sanders’s family participates in Food Fighters, so we can finally find out the secret ingredient in KFC (fingers crossed that it’s chicken). My future prediction? This week’s two premieres will spark a “eureka moment” for some network executive. By next summer, we will have skydiving chefs in a cooking competition that requires them to create a dish while in free fall.

Big Releases: July 22: Alvvays (Alvvays); Common (Nobody’s Smiling)
Big Picture: Common took a break from playing a cowboy on AMC’s Hell on Wheels to head back into the studio. His new effort Nobody’s Smiling, is built around collaborations with Chicago’s hip-hop community, including Dreezy, King Louie and Lil Herb (which is possibly the least intimidating hip-hop name of all-time). Meanwhile, Toronto’s Alvvays debut a brand of dreamy surf-pop that captures the whimsy, nostalgia, energy and spontaneous joy of the summer. Reverb, fuzzy guitars and Molly Rankin’s plaintive, unadorned vocals conjure up magic.
Try not to be enchanted by the track Archie, Marry Me. Coincidentally, I recently posted a song to YouTube called Scarlett, Marry Me. (Shhhh. Don’t tell my wife.)
Forecast: Common’s aim is Nobody’s Smiling. Alvvays will leave everybody smiling.
Honourable Mention: PS I Love You (For Those Who Stay). The critically acclaimed, little-known indie rock duo from Kingston returns to seek your affection with their third effort. (You’ll reciprocate the profession of love.)